The Virginia Tech media relations office has the following experts available for interviews this week surrounding issues in the news, including the Supreme Court striking down President Trump's tariffs, the State of the Union, geopolitical tensions in Iran, the bomb cyclone storm, the musical history of "Sinners", and more. To schedule an interview, please contact mediarelations@vt.edu.

Virginia Tech experts available to discuss headlines in the news

Supreme Court ruling begins new era of tariff uncertainty

After a Supreme Court ruling last week invalidated President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs, Trump vowed to continue imposing tariffs through other legally available avenues, meaning the economic uncertainty over the effects of tariffs won’t end anytime soon. “From an economics policy perspective, uncertainty is poison,” said economist David Bieri. Yet the economy has stayed strong despite tariff concerns. “Stock markets are doing rather quite well.” Bieri is available to analyze the repercussions of the Supreme Court tariff decision

What to watch for in the State of the Union address

Political communications expert Cayce Myers notes that the 2026 State of the Union comes at a time when President Donald Trump faces significant challenges. “The recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court concerning presidential powers and tariffs has upended Trump's economic policy for his second term, and calls into question whether Trump can pivot to using other laws to achieve his goals for global trade. Additionally, the question concerning U.S. intervention in Iran looms large, with speculation that Trump will use this speech to signal his intentions for the region,” he says. Myers and political scientist Karen Hult can discuss the stakes for the State of the Union speech.

U.S. and Iran to meet this week

Negotiators from the U.S. and Iran are scheduled to meet in Geneva this week in an effort to avoid military conflict. White House advisers say President Trump has been leaning toward an initial strike, followed by a larger attack. U.S. foreign policy and international relations expert Paul Avey is available to discuss these tactics and what’s next after the talks.

What is bombogenesis, the storm blanketing the east coast?

The brutal winter impacting much of the eastern United States continues this week with a bombogenesis or bomb cyclone event that has brought both heavy snowfall and blustery winds to the eastern seaboard. Meteorologist Barrett Gutter can explain the science behind the weather event, why it’s so different from the last major storm, and what impacts to expect this week.

How Oscar-nominated ‘Sinners’ represents Black musical traditions

Horror film “Sinners” has received 16 Academy Award nominations, the most for any movie in cinema history. “‘Sinners’ provides an exceptional illustration of the beauty of musical traditions and the ills of its commodification and the racism surrounding it,” said Patrick Salmons, whose research focuses on the intersections of music, history, race, and class relations. “The movie’s director, Ryan Coogler, wanted to tell a very particular, compelling, story about Black musicians, racism, and the ability to overcome these institutions and change the world with music.” Read more here.

Podcast: How microplastics impact both human health and the environment

Austin Gray joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about microplastics and the growing body of research about their impact on human and environmental health. He shared insights related to the public perception of plastic pollution, the history of microplastics, and the direction of future research. Gray also emphasized the importance of approaching research as public service and the need for effective science communication.

“Curious Conversations” is available on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.

Research highlight

How cannabis use influences real-world driver behavior

As marijuana legalization expands across the U.S., it is outpacing research on the impact of cannabis use behind the wheel. Researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) recently spent two years collecting real-world driving data from cannabis users to help fill in the gaps.

Early results from data analysis revealed:

  • Time of day patterns: Cannabis-related trips spiked during typical lunch times and in the evening. Fridays were the most popular day of the week for imbibing.

  • Behavioral changes: Some participants compensated for substance use by taking different routes, typically choosing to use more rural roads than for sober trips.

Kaitlyn Bedwell, study author and senior research associate at the institute, said the first-of-its-kind study's real value lies in its holistic approach. It accounts for individual factors that affect driving under the influence of cannabis and provides both qualitative and quantitative measures that connect reported substance use with lab data. She said the framework can be replicated for future research and the sizable, novel database can be utilized by other researchers to further answer questions about cannabis use and driving performance. 

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